Media Centre - IARC NEWS

2017

A new study led by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), published today in The Lancet Haematology, assesses the global patterns of leukaemia incidence according to the four major subtypes, stratified by age and sex. The report highlights the distinct variations in incidence rates and discusses explanatory factors that may support preventive measures and health resource planning.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the website of the Determinants of Breast Cancer in Morocco (EDSMAR) study. The goal of the study is to investigate the etiology of breast cancer in North African women at two centres in Morocco, to identify modifiable nutritional and lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer in Morocco. This study is among the first to investigate specific factors (including lifestyle factors and dietary habits) in the North African population that may be associated with specific subtypes of breast cancer. The project is supported by the Lalla Salma Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2017 Senior Visiting Scientist Award is Dr Brent Richards, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Departments of Medicine, Human Genetics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is launching the French component of the international Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) project. France is joining a study that is already under way in Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has been a positive force in international public health for more than five decades, focusing on cancer research for cancer prevention. The Friends of IARC initiative is designed to help the Agency continue to fulfil its mission to reduce the global cancer burden. The Friends of IARC serve as ambassadors, testifying to the work and values of the Agency and supporting IARC in reaching out to society and stakeholders. In collaboration with this network of Friends across the world, IARC can achieve even more at this critical time.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the extension of its Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cancer Center Japan to expand the scope of joint research and personnel exchanges for research on cancer causes, epidemiology, genomics, early-stage diagnostics, screening, prevention, and survivorship.

On 20 November 2017, Dr Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), responded to a letter from the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology raising several points mentioned in some media outlets regarding the evaluation of glyphosate by the IARC Monographs Programme.

There are about 20 000 new cases of anal cancer per year globally, of which an estimated 90% are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. New research by scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, characterizes the contribution of different oncogenic HPV types to the development of anal cancer, in HIV-negative men and women as well as in high-risk HIV-positive populations.

Lin C, Franceschi S, Clifford GM
Human papillomavirus types from infection to cancer in the anus, according to sex and HIV status: a systematic review and meta-analysisLancet Infect Dis, Published online 17 November 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30653-9

New technologies are transforming the field of pathology more rapidly than ever, and it has become increasingly clear that our understanding of cancer at the molecular level is an integral part of clinical diagnosis and prognosis. The WHO Classification of Tumours series (also called the WHO Blue Books), produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), provides the international standard for oncologists and pathologists against which cancers and benign tumours are diagnosed.

To mark International Pathology Day, IARC invites all pathologists, oncologists, and practitioners using the WHO Blue Books to provide their feedback on these authoritative reference books.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Cancer Center of China (NCC) have signed a new agreement to renew and expand their collaboration on cancer prevention and control.

Applications from highly qualified persons are invited for the post of Director, IARC. The appointment of the Director will be made in May 2018 for a term of five years beginning on 1 January 2019. The selected candidate may be eligible for one further five-year term.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is the closure of working hours on 15 February 2018.

A new study by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), published in The Lancet Oncology, examines for the first time the global burden for cancer among young adults aged 20–39 years. The report provides critical evidence of the burden of the disease in this age group and highlights the urgent need for adequate prevention measures, timely diagnosis, and cancer care.

Dr Christopher P. Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), attended the WHO Global Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) held in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 18–20 October 2017. During the closing sessions of the conference, hosted and attended by the President of Uruguay, Dr Wild delivered a speech about the role of research in facing the NCD challenge.

The results of the recent IARC Monographs evaluation of the carcinogenicity of benzene have now been published in The Lancet Oncology.
This summary article presents the conclusions of the IARC Monographs Meeting 120, which reviewed all relevant published scientific literature currently available. This new evaluation updates the previous evaluation of benzene by the IARC Monographs in 2009.
The full scientific assessment will be published as Volume 120 of the IARC Monographs.

An article published on 19 October 2017 by Reuters severely distorts the assessment of the IARC Monographs evaluation of glyphosate. IARC addresses a series of fallacious statements made in that article regarding the scientific deliberations of the Monographs Working Groups and reiterates the critical importance of a scientific debate free from vested interests, in the best interest of global public health.

A new study by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the American Cancer Society found that endometrial cancer incidence rates increased over time and in successive generations in several countries, especially in countries with rapid socioeconomic transitions. The highest rates were in North America and eastern and northern Europe, and the lowest rates were in middle-income countries. The ongoing obesity epidemic is a major risk factor for the disease, and analyses of the global patterns and trends of uterine cancer rates are critical to better understand and control the disease.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the website of the Thyroid Monitoring after Nuclear Accidents (TM-NUC) project. The TM-NUC project brings together 16 experts from 11 different countries and from a variety of fields, including cancer screening, radiation epidemiology, radiation dosimetry, pathology, oncology, endocrinology, and surgery, in order to develop principles for thyroid monitoring in populations possibly affected by radiation exposure due to nuclear accidents. The resulting principles will help guide policy-makers and health professionals in planning thyroid monitoring in case of nuclear accidents.

Dr Christopher P. Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), speaks with ecancer at the RSM meeting on cancer control about the health burden of ageing and shifting populations around the globe, especially in low- and middle-income countries in which changing lifestyles are leading to increased cancer incidence.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that the electronic version of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5), Volume XI is now available online. The volume was produced in collaboration with the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR), and the launch is timed to mark the 39th IACR Annual Scientific Conference, which is being held in Utrecht this week. This new volume provides comparable data on cancer incidence collected from 2008 to 2012 from 343 cancer registries in 65 countries. The online database is available on the CI5 website, and the printed book (IARC Scientific Publication No. 166) will be published and sent to all contributing registries in 2018.

Africa has low breast cancer incidence rates but breast cancer mortality rates that are as high as those in high-incidence countries. Delays in presentation and diagnosis are major determinants of breast cancer survival, but these have not been comprehensively investigated in Africa. Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently published a review of 21 studies reporting on delays in presentation and diagnosis of breast cancer in Africa, and the reasons for these delays. This systematic review revealed marked delays in presentation and diagnosis. Identification of their drivers is crucial to the development of appropriate control strategies in Africa.

A new study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) presents the current burden and patterns of cancer in Peru. The article, published today in The Lancet Oncology, is part of the journal’s series focusing on cancer control in Peru. The article documents the evolving cancer profiles in Peru, where breast cancer and prostate cancer have become the most frequently diagnosed tumours, while stomach cancer and cervical cancer remain leading causes of death from cancer. The study makes use of data from the population-based cancer registries in Lima and Arequipa, which are key assets in supporting national cancer control planning.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the publication of a new IARC Working Group Report. The report, entitled Energy Balance and Obesity, reviews the drivers of obesity, including the roles of excess energy intake and specific foods and nutrients in the global obesity epidemic. The report is the result of the collaborative work of 17 international experts and is based on the latest scientific evidence.

A postdoctoral opportunity is immediately available within the Prevention and Implementation (PRI) group to work on economic studies of cancer. The candidate will contribute to a portfolio of research projects in the PRI group, in collaboration with colleagues at IARC and its network with a geographical focus on low –and middle-income countries. These include in particular research into the cost-effectiveness of preventive strategies for cervical and gastric cancer.

A postdoctoral or Visiting Scientist opportunity is available within the Section of Environment and Radiation. Within the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC), the incumbent would contribute to the research program by conducting a pooled analysis of case-control studies on parental exposure to electromagnetic fields and the risk of childhood leukemia in the offspring.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is proud to announce its participation in World Cancer Research Day, a global campaign to raise awareness about the importance of cancer research and the extraordinary contributions of cancer researchers, designating 24 September 2017 as World Cancer Research Day.

Survival after childhood cancer has substantially improved over the past several decades, but this improvement has come at a cost. A recent study by Dr Nickhill Bhakta and colleagues estimates that by age 50 years, nearly all survivors of childhood cancer will experience a chronic health condition that is severe or disabling, life-threatening, or fatal. In a Comment published today in The Lancet, Dr Miranda Fidler, a postdoctoral fellow at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), stresses the importance of such comprehensive assessments of chronic health conditions among survivors of childhood cancer, in order to better address their complex health-care needs.

WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues is a Revised 4th Edition Volume of the WHO series on histological and genetic typing of human tumours. This authoritative, concise reference book provides an international standard for oncologists and pathologists and will serve as an indispensable guide for use in the design of studies monitoring response to therapy and clinical outcome.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the publication of a new colposcopy manual. Colposcopy and Treatment of Cervical Precancer is a highly comprehensive manual, both for the training of new colposcopists and for the continuing education and reorientation of those who are more experienced. The manual incorporates recent developments in the understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), as well as in colposcopy and cervical pathology. It offers a valuable learning resource for acquiring the necessary skills for the visual recognition and interpretation of colposcopic findings. The book is available free in PDF format and for purchase in print format.

Title: Population-level interventions for cancer prevention: using evidence to change policySpeaker: Dr Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy and Director of the Institute for Social Marketing & Dean of Research (Impact), University of Stirling, United Kingdom

The Section of Early Detection and Prevention of the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new atlas of colposcopy. The Atlas of Colposcopy: Principles and Practice is a digital tool to train students, nurses, and gynaecologists, particularly in developing countries, where resources are limited. The atlas, which is freely available on the website of the IARC Screening Group, offers a wide range of digital resources to help those involved in diagnosing or treating cervical cancer or precancerous lesions. The tool includes videos, case studies, and quizzes.

A postdoctoral opportunity is immediately available within the Genetic Epidemiology Group to contribute to the Cancer Research UK Grand Challenge project Mutographs of Cancer, which is a multidisciplinary cancer study that aims to identify mutation signatures for five different cancers, as well as large-scale genome-wide and Mendelian randomization studies.

The interaction between the (epi)genetic makeup of an individual and their environmental exposure record is accepted as a determinant factor for most human cancers. In an opinion paper published in the International Journal of Cancer, scientists from the Epigenetics Group at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partners review the state of the science of epigenetics associated with environmental stimuli and cancer risk, highlighting key developments in the field. The article also discusses critical knowledge gaps and research needs and provides guidelines (a roadmap) for investigating epigenetic deregulation and environmental origins of cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the 5th Workshop on Emerging Issues in Oncogenic Virus Research, to be held in San Pietro in Bevagna, Manduria, Italy, from 30 May to 3 June 2018. Like the most recent meeting, in 2016, the workshop will focus on novel oncogenic viruses but will also include new insights on well-established oncogenic viruses. The meeting website provides further details, including the preliminary scientific programme and practical information about travel and accommodation. Meeting registration is open now, and will close on 15 April 2018.
Participants are also invited to submit abstracts, starting 1 January 2018. The deadline for abstract submission is 1 April 2018.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is saddened by the passing of Professor René Lambert, a long-time IARC collaborator, who died on Saturday 5 August 2017. He was 87. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family.

Precision medicine has been defined as a “revolutionary approach for disease prevention and treatment that takes into account individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and biology”. In a Comment published in The Lancet Oncology, Dr Paolo Vineis of Imperial College London and Dr Christopher P. Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), raise some key considerations relating to the development of a science of precision prevention of cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is grateful for the help we receive through individual financial contributions to build and strengthen our research activities. These funds play a valuable role in supporting the Agency’s research and training programmes and in working towards the prevention of cancer worldwide.

In order to make it easier for individuals to join us in the fight against cancer, the Agency has revamped its Donations webpage, where visitors can learn more about supporting IARC research.

Ultimately, together we can understand cancer better and ensure that it is prevented, detected, and treated as early and as effectively as possible.

A new study published today in Genome Research models a first-of-its-kind approach to exploring the causes of cancer by combining cell and animal experimental studies with genome-wide sequencing of human tumours. Specific patterns of DNA mutations identified in human tumours were reproduced via in vivo and in vitro experimental studies, providing key insights into the mutagenic agents that underlie the development of cancer.

A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) provides new evidence that asbestos exposure may induce DNA methylation changes in specific genes. IARC researchers, in partnership with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki, carried out a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of lung cancer tissue samples for which detailed asbestos exposure and clinical data were available, and compared the samples with normal lung tissue. The research, published last week in the International Journal of Cancer (IJC), provides key insights into the mechanisms associated with asbestos exposure that contribute to lung cancer. It also identifies new potential biomarkers of asbestos exposure.

A new research project coordinated by IARC in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Bhutan assesses the feasibility and outcomes of a novel approach to cervical cancer screening in rural Bhutan. The study, named “REACH-Bhutan”, evaluates the use of the careHPV test on self-collected samples to achieve high coverage. The details and preliminary results are published today in BMJ Open.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the updated website of the IARC Screening Group (SCR), a part of the Section of Early Detection and Prevention. The site has been redesigned to provide a more user-friendly browsing experience and a more intuitive information architecture to improve navigation and access. The site presents information about SCR research projects related to various screening interventions for breast, cervical, colorectal, and oral cancer control, as well as extensive training resources, including manuals, online courses, video tutorials, and audio presentations.

A new study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published today in Annals of Internal Medicine examines whether coffee consumption is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Based on the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort, the research included more than 521 300 participants from 10 European countries and is the largest analysis of coffee consumption and mortality currently available. The results suggest that higher levels of coffee drinking are associated with lower risk of death from various causes, and in particular digestive and circulatory diseases.
Gunter MJ, Murphy N, Cross AJ, Dossus L, Dartois L, Fagherazzi G, et al.
Coffee drinking and mortality in 10 European countries: a multinational cohort studyAnn Intern Med, [Epub ahead of print 11 July 2017] doi: 10.7326/M16-2945

New research led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) studies drivers of cell immortalization, a hallmark of cancer, using an experimental carcinogen exposure system and state-of-the-art genomics technologies. The report, published today in the journal Oncogene, identifies novel putative cancer driver genes not yet recognized by large-scale cancer genome sequencing projects. The research highlights the potential for the system’s wider application in complementing tumour sequencing in the discovery and functional characterization of early biomarkers of carcinogenic transformation.

A new study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published in PLoS Medicine assesses the variations in breast density with ageing in 22 countries worldwide, in order to evaluate the basic epidemiology of this strong marker of breast cancer risk. The results indicate that declines in breast density with ageing and through the menopausal transition appear to be an inherent feature of this risk marker in women worldwide.

A postdoctoral opportunity is immediately available within the Nutritional Methodology and Biostatistics Group to work on the identification of aetiological factors in the occurrence of multi-morbidity and cancer comorbidity. The postdoctoral scientist will join an innovative and scientifically stimulating environment and will have opportunities to interact and collaborate with colleagues from IARC and its networks.

The WHO Classification of Tumours of Endocrine Organs is the tenth volume in the 4th Edition of the WHO series on histological and genetic typing of human tumours. This authoritative, concise reference book provides an international standard for oncologists and pathologists and will serve as an indispensable guide for use in the design of studies evaluating response to therapy and clinical outcome.

A Working Group of 21 scientists from 9 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on 6–13 June 2017 to evaluate the carcinogenicity of 1‐tert‐butoxypropan‐2‐ol, β‐myrcene, furfuryl alcohol, melamine, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, and vinylidene chloride. A summary of the evaluations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology. The detailed assessments will be published as Volume 119 of the IARC Monographs.

A new study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published today in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) assesses the global impact of cancer compared with cardiovascular disease (CVD) on changes in life expectancy. Using data from 52 populations included in the World Health Organization Mortality Database over the period 1981–2010, the study shows that declining cancer mortality rates were responsible for up to 20% of the overall gains in life expectancy at ages 40–84 years. Declining CVD mortality rates had the greatest impact and were responsible for more than 50% of the overall gains experienced.

A new large-scale association analysis coordinated by scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published in Nature Genetics identifies new lung cancer susceptibility loci. The new loci highlight the striking heterogeneity in genetic susceptibility across the histological subtypes of lung cancer. In this analysis, 14 803 cases and 12 262 controls of European descent were genotyped on the OncoArray and combined with existing data for an aggregated genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis of lung cancer in 29 266 cases and 56 450 controls.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the signature of a new Letter of Agreement with the National Cancer Institute of Thailand, as part of IARC’s Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR), to establish an IARC/GICR Collaborating Centre in Bangkok. The areas of focus of the new Collaborating Centre will include the delivery of tailored training courses in East Asia and the development of networks to promote population-based cancer registration and improve the quality and use of registry data in the region.

Today, governments from around the world adopted a new cancer resolution at the Seventieth World Health Assembly, in Geneva, Switzerland. This resolution complements the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013–2020. It points to many cancer control measures, including health promotion, reducing exposure to cancer risk factors, and improving access to early diagnosis and treatment. Prevention and early detection have a key role to play, in particular in low- and middle-income countries.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is saddened by the passing of Jane Mitchell, a long-time IARC staff member, who died on Wednesday 24 May 2017. Our deepest sympathy is with Jane’s family.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the signature of a new Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cancer Center Japan to further promote collaboration on cancer research and control in the region. The agreement falls within IARC's Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR), to establish an IARC/GICR Collaborating Centre with a specific focus on supporting the development of analytical capacity and descriptive epidemiological research using population-based cancer registry data in East Asia.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that the IARC Monographs volume on Some Nanomaterials and Some Fibres is now available online. The volume includes monographs on carbon nanotubes, fluoro-edenite, and silicon carbide.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the International Cancer Survival Benchmarking website. Incorporating the most up-to-date population-based cancer survival data available, this new platform will provide a comprehensive view of cancer survival estimates, alongside incidence and mortality, in high-income countries and countries in transition. Aimed at researchers, policy-makers, and public health specialists, the website brings together three international landmark projects: SURVMARK-2, SURVCAN-3, and SURVPOOL, in order to move towards better outcomes after cancer diagnosis for all.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the publication of new guidelines and recommendations for biobanks. The publication, Common Minimum Technical Standards and Protocols for Biobanks Dedicated to Cancer Research, provides essential guidance for biobanks not only in high-income countries but also in low- and middle-income countries. The recommendations are based on validated and/or evidence-based guidelines.

A new study by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) presents a global surveillance framework for monitoring the core components of cancer control, illustrating both the unique role of cancer registries and commonalities with the surveillance of other noncommunicable diseases.

A new large-scale genetic research study led by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has identified elevated body mass index (BMI) and increased fasting insulin levels as causal risk factors for pancreatic cancer. The researchers also provided intriguing new evidence on the mechanistic pathways that may play a role, in particular for insulin-related pathways. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, with 5-year survival rates of about 5%. Therefore, the identification of modifiable risk factors can play a critical role in informing preventive measures.

IARC and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) jointly hosted a meeting in Washington, DC, USA, on 24 and 25 April with representatives from cancer and public health institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean to explore the possibility of developing an evidence-based set of cancer prevention messages targeted to the general population of the region.

An international study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published today in The Lancet Oncology shows that in 2001–2010, childhood cancer was 13% more common than in the 1980s, reaching an annual incidence rate of 140 per million children aged 0–14 years worldwide.

A Working Group of 17 scientists from 10 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on 21–28 March 2017 to evaluate the carcinogenicity of welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide. A summary of the evaluations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology. The detailed assessments will be published as Volume 118 of the IARC Monographs.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an emerging risk factor associated with head and neck cancer. A new study led by the Epigenetics Group at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified a novel epigenetic signature of HPV infection in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). This signature, which is independent of the anatomical site, was shown to be a better predictor of survival compared with HPV status determined by viral gene expression, and thus could be leveraged for improved prediction of survival in HNSCCs.
Degli Esposti D, Sklias A, Lima SC, Beghelli-de la Forest Divonne S, Cahais V, Fernandez-Jimenez N, et al.
Unique DNA methylation signature in HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomasGenome Medicine. Published online 5 April 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13073-017-0419-z

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is proud to be a partner in the WICC Network, which is hosted by Menzies School of Health Research, Australia. The WICC Network is dedicated to improving cancer outcomes for Indigenous peoples around the world. It was established to continue research collaboration after the World Indigenous Cancer Conference (WICC), which was held in Brisbane, Australia, in 2016.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is aware that the Committee for Risk Assessment of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has concluded that the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria of the “Classification, Labelling and Packaging” (CLP) Regulation required to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen or as genotoxic.

The international experts composing the IARC Monograph Working Group, which evaluated glyphosate in March 2015, concluded that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans” based on the publicly available scientific evidence on epidemiology, animal carcinogenicity, and carcinogenic mechanisms, using the methodology described in detail in the IARC Monographs preamble.

The IARC evaluation of glyphosate is not affected by the ECHA review. IARC does not comment on the expertise, methodology, or conclusions of other national or international committees.

A new study led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluates the link between the DNA methylation-based marker of ageing, known as the “epigenetic clock”, and breast cancer risk. The study, based on the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort, a large prospective study conducted in 23 centres across 10 European countries, shows that an accelerated epigenetic clock is associated with susceptibility to postmenopausal breast cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) convened a Working Group of international experts in December 2015 to review the evidence regarding energy balance and obesity, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. A summary of the topics addressed and the conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group has been published in Cancer Causes & Control.

A postdoctoral opportunity is immediately available within the Genetic Epidemiology Group to work on multidisciplinary cancer studies. Successful candidates should have a strong background in cancer genomics and/or epidemiology and/or biostatistics, as well as a good command of English.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is releasing the latest data on the incidence of childhood cancer across the world to mark International Childhood Cancer Day. The results, which are part of the third volume of the International Incidence of Childhood Cancer (IICC) project, are based on collaboration of more than 300 high-quality registries in 82 countries, departments, and territories on five continents. Tabulated data on more than 770 000 neoplasms diagnosed in patients younger than 20 years are now accessible online, with statistics presented for the diagnostic groups relevant to childhood cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is proud to announce that IARC researchers are part of a team that has been awarded a grant of up to £20 million as part of the Grand Challenge, facilitated by Cancer Research UK. The research project, "Mutographs of Cancer: Discovering the causes of cancer through mutational signatures", is a joint initiative that aims to better define what causes DNA damage and how it leads to cancer. The project is a response to Grand Challenge 3: "Discover how unusual patterns of mutation are induced by different cancer-causing events".

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the publication of Cancer Screening in the European Union (2017): Report on the Implementation of the Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening. This is the second report on the status of implementation of cancer screening programmes in the European Union since the recommendation from the European Council in 2003. The report was prepared by IARC in collaboration with the Piedmont Reference Center for Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention (CPO Piemonte), Italy, and the Cancer Society of Finland (CSF), Mass Screening Registry, Finland.

Every year on World Cancer Day (4 February), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) support the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in promoting ways to reduce the global burden of cancer. On 3 February 2017, IARC is hosting the 4th IARC Cancer and Society Lecture, featuring Karin Holm , who will present a talk entitled "Patient Power for Better Research: I Can, We Can".

Every year, cervical cancer kills more than 250 000 women, and 85% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, but most of these deaths could be prevented with adequate prevention measures, such as vaccination of girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) and screening programmes to detect and treat precancerous lesions.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the Exposome-Explorer website. Exposome-Explorer is a manually curated database of biomarkers of exposure to dietary and environmental factors. The database was developed at IARC in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Canada. The website should be particularly useful for researchers wishing to select panels of biomarkers that can be used in biomonitoring studies or in exposome-wide association studies, thereby allowing them to better understand the etiology of chronic diseases.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that the IARC Monographs volume on Some Organophosphate Insecticides and Herbicides is now available online. The volume includes monographs on diazinon, glyphosate, malathion, parathion, and tetrachlorvinphos.

A postdoctoral opportunity is immediately available within the Section of Cancer Surveillance to participate in the SURVMARK-2 project (A Comprehensive Approach to International Cancer Survival Benchmarking).

The WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours is the ninth volume in the 4th Edition of the WHO series on histological and genetic typing of human tumours. This authoritative, concise reference book provides an international standard for oncologists and pathologists and will serve as an indispensable guide for use in the design of studies evaluating response to therapy and clinical outcome.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the South Africa Breast Cancer (SABC) study website. The SABC study is a population-based case–control study set up at the Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, to study the etiology of breast cancer in black South African women. The study is very important because it is among the first to study specific factors, including lifestyle and dietary habits, in the black South African population that may be associated with specific subtypes of breast cancer. The aim of the study is to advance the prevention and management of breast cancer in black women in South Africa through a better understanding of the molecular, pathological, and risk factor patterns.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is saddened by the passing of Dominique Hornez, a long-time IARC staff member, who died on Sunday 8 January 2017 in Lyon. Our deepest sympathy is with his son, Florent.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that Dr Silvia Franceschi, Special Advisor on Noncommunicable Diseases and Head of the Infections and Cancer Epidemiology Group in the IARC Section of Infections, is the 2017 recipient of the Rosalind E. Franklin Award, presented today by the United States National Cancer Institute. The prize honours the commitment of women in cancer research and is given in tribute to Dr Franklin, who played a critical role in the discovery of the DNA double helix. On the occasion of the award, Dr Franceschi is presenting a lecture on "Global burden of cancer attributable to infections (with focus on HPV)".

Two postdoctoral opportunities: "Postdoctoral opportunity in epigenetic mechanisms and cancer development" and "Postdoctoral opportunity in epigenetics and breast cancer" are immediately available within the Epigenetics Group to study epigenetics and cancer.